Frédéric Devreese 1929-2020

pjme · September 28, 2020, 01:55:41 PM

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2020/09/28/frederic-devreese-91-overleden-componist-van-veel-filmmuziek/

Fréderic Devreese passed away at the age of 91.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Devreese

https://www.youtube.com/v/0gkczFCyec8
https://www.youtube.com/v/hXugVm2Yhyk

André · September 28, 2020, 04:48:25 PM

A fine composer and conductor. I have piano concertos and film music by him, as well as symphonies by Marcel Poot and Daniel Sternefeld in which he conducts the orchestra. I especially like his piano concertos.

pjme · September 28, 2020, 11:27:27 PM

https://www.youtube.com/v/eWGo9ls8QQA

vandermolen · September 29, 2020, 04:46:41 AM

I have several CDs of his music. He was also the son of Godfried Devreese, whose 'Gothic Symphony'is a favourite of mine.
Sad news indeed although he enjoyed a long life.

pjme · September 29, 2020, 05:28:45 AM

Indeed, a most talented father-son team.
As usual, many scores remain unperformed. Godfried wrote little - but there are 4 symphonies (the last one from 1966).
Frédéric was precocious as composer. There's at least a violinconcerto (1950), a symphony (1952) and the (1962) opera "Willem van Saefthinge" and a late celloconcerto (1999).
I have a radio recording of the orchestral suite "Evocations" - very impressive music that reminds me of both Copland & Chostakovich.

I found this worklist:

Opera: Willem van Saefthinge (a "TV-opera", libretto van Jean Francis) (1962-63); Le Cavalier Bizarre (opera, libretto by Michel de Ghelderode) (1976)

Orchestra & concerti:
Pianoconcerto nr. 1(1949);  Violinconcerto(1951);  Pianoconcerto nr. 2 (1952); 
Symfonie (1952);  Pianoconcerto nr. 3 (1955);  Mascarade Suite (1956);  Evocations Suite (1966);  
Ouverture for large orchestra (1976); Pianoconcerto nr. 4 voor piano en orkest (1983);  Benvenuta Suite (1984);
Gemini Suite for 2 orchestras (1986); L'Œuvre au Noir (1988); Valse Sacrée (1989);  Thème et Danse (1989); 
Canti – Concerto voor cello en orkest (1999); Circles (2002);  Three waltzes: First Waltz – Romantic Waltz – Valse Sacrée (2003); Passage (2003 -2006); Zénon, suite nr. 2, (2003-2006); The Chess player, suite nr. 3 (2003-2006)

String orchestra:  Deux Mouvements (1953–63);  Divertimenti (1970);  2 Préludes (1983); 
Belle (1991); Variations and Theme (1992);  La Partie d'échecs (1995); Ostinati (concertino) for alto sax, accordion and strings (1998); Concertino for cello, bandoneon en strings (1998);  Circles (2002); Three waltzes: First Waltz – Romantic Waltz – Valse Sacrée (2003);  Concerto for viool & string orchestra (2004)

Brass band- wind ensemble: Masque for brass (1989); Divertimenti, Suite nr. 1 voor French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba (1970);  James Ensor, Suite nr. 2 voor French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone and tuba (1981);  Suite nr. 1 for brass, 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone & tuba (2008); Suite nr. 2 for brass,(2009)

Chamber music:  Complainte for oboe & piano (1953);  Divertimenti a due for violin & cello (1968); Divertimenti voor string quartet (1970);  Four Short Waltzes voor 4 recorders (1979);  James Ensor Quartet (quartet nr. 2) for 4 saxes (2002);  Benvenuta Trio for violin, cello & piano (1983);  Five Divertimenti (kwartet nr. 1) for 4 saxes (1985); Benvenuta for viool & piano (1987);  Valse Sacrée Trio for violin, viola & piano (1989);  Sax Blues for alto sax / trumpet & piano (1989);  Benvenuta for violin, cello & piano (1990);  Berceuse & Finale for violin, flute & piano (1991);  Three Dances for 10 winds (1991); Divertimenti a due for guitar & violin (1996);  Suite voor alto sax & piano (1998); 
Recitativo & Allegro for trumpet & piano (2000);  Blues for trumpet & piano (2001); 
Canti for cello, viola & piano (2001);  Quartet for violin, viola, cello & piano (2001);  Three Pieces for flute / alto sax & piano (2002);  Passage à 5 for guitar, violin, bass, piano & accordeon (2002); 
Circles for violin, viola, cello, contrabass & piano (2003);  String quartet (2004);  Final Game 1, 2, 3 & 4 for guitaar, violin, contrabass, piano & accordeon (2004-2006);  
Dream & Tango for guitaar, violin, contrabass, piano & accordeon (2004-2006);
Gemini, Seduction & Dance of the Twins for guitaar, violin, contrabass, piano & accordeon (2004-2006); Three Waltzes for guitaar, violin, contrabass, piano & accordeon (2004-2006)

Vocal: Drie Kleengedichtjes (1947); Six songs (1962); Four Old Flemish Songs mixed choir (1966);  Ballade for Damien for childrens choir, harmonica and string orchestra (1988); Vannacht (Tonight) (1988)

Piano: Mascarade (1953); Prélude (1972); Gemini Suite for 2 pianos (1980); Black and White (1984); Lullaby for Jesse (1992);  4 Short Waltzes (1997);  Mobile voor vierhandige piano (2000)

Film scores: Paul Klee (1957);  Les Suréalists (1961);  Ik, James Ensor (1965); De Grafbewaker (1965); L'Homme au crâne rasé (1965); De Overkant (1966);  Un Soir, un Train (1968);  De Kruisaflating (1969);  P. Brueghel (1969);  Gent (1970);  Rendez-vous à Bray (1971);  De Geboorte (1972);  Belle (1973);  Photo Romance (1974);  Cross (1975);  Jouvence Du Bout des lèvres (1976); Dieric Bouts Filet américain (1981); Benvenuta (1983);  Les Noces Barbares (1987); L'Œuvre au Noir (1988); Les Interprètes (1989);  Het Sacrament (1989);  1001 Filmen (1989);  Il Maestro (1990); François Miterand (1992); La Partie d'échecs (1994); Pauline & Paulette (2001); Mein Name ist Bach (2003)

Scion7 · September 29, 2020, 05:29:32 AM

You lot keep bringing up people I've never heard of, and now I have yet another to explore in my EANCOCD.

Ok ...

(b Amsterdam, 2 June 1929). Belgian conductor and composer. The son of Godfried Devreese, ... took an appointment as a producer for Belgian Television ... conductor and composer, has been for this medium. ... conducted the symphony and chamber orchestras of Belgian Radio, and has appeared as a guest conductor abroad. His early works, notably the First Piano Concerto, were influenced by jazz and by the music of Gershwin; while he has remained an eclectic composer, a certain Flemish Expressionism is evident in his later music. Devreese has a liking for dance rhythms and uses the technique of permanent variation, with logical but surprising evolutions. His film scores are highly evocative ...

partial works list

Orchestral
=========================
Piano Conc. no.1, 1949
Violin Conc., 1951
Piano Conc. no.2, 1952
Symphony, 1952
2 movts, strings, 1953–63
Piano Conc. no.3, 1956
Evocation, suite, 1966
Divertimenti, strings, 1970
Overture, 1976
Prelude, 1983
Piano Conc. no.4, 1983
Ballade pour Damien, harmonica, strings, children's choir, 1988 [based on a theme by T. Thielemans]
Variations and Theme, strings, 1994
Valse sacrée, 1994
Saxophone Conc., 1997
Violin Conc., 1997
Mascarade, ballet, 1956
Gemini (ballet, 5), 1986
De liefde van Don Juan (ballet, A. Leclair), 1974

chamber music
========================
Variations and Themes for Piano Quartet
Complainte, oboe, piano (1953)
Divertimenti a due, violin, cello (1968)
Divertimenti, string quartet (1970)
Suite No. 1, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba (1970)
4 Short Waltzes, 4 recorders (1979)
Suite No. 2, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba (1981)
5 Divertimenti, 4 saxophones (1985)
Benvenuta, violin, piano (1987)
Valse Sa, ensemble (1987)
Sax Blues, alto saxophone, piano (1989)
Benvenuta, violin, cello, piano (1990)
Berceuse et Finale, violin, piano (1991)
Three Dances, 10 winds (1991)
Passage, harmonica, jazz ensemble (1994)
Divertimenti a due, guitar, violin (1996)
Suite, alto saxophone, piano (1998)
Récitativo et Allegro, trumpet, piano (2000)
Canti, cello (or viola), piano (2000)
Blues, trumpet, piano (2001)
Quartet, violin, viola, cello, piano (2001)
3 Pieces, flute/alto saxophone, piano (2002)
James Ensor Quartet (quartet no. 2), 4 saxophones (2002)
Passage à 5, guitar (+ electric guitar), violin, double bass, piano, accordion (2002)

film music
=============================
De man die zijn haar kort liet knippen, 1965
Un soir, un train, 1968
Rendez-vous à Bray, 1970
Benvenuta, 1983
L'oeuvre au noir, 1988
Een vreemde reis (Les clés des chants surréalistes), 1966
Breugel, 1969
Evenepoel, schilder van de tederheid, 1971
Ik, Ensor, 1972

What is a good place to start?

Scion7 · September 29, 2020, 05:32:52 AM

bloody symmetry

pjme · September 29, 2020, 05:41:17 AM

Start with the pianoconcerti - if you want to skip the film scores. Several are on YT. I prefer "symphonic" Devreese.
The fourth concerto became quite famous when it was chosen for the Queen Elisabeth competition in 1983.

On the website of the Competition one can listen to many recordings, with many famous artists at the start of their career.
Devreese's 4th concerto was performed by Rian de Waal, Huseyin Sermet, Alexander Kuzmin, Boyan Vodenicharov and - then winner - Pierre Alain Volondat.
https://queenelisabethcompetition.be/en/competitions-details-watch-listen/activities/piano-1983/

Valse sacrée and other fragments from filmscores are regularly performed in all kinds of arrangements.
The symphony, the violinconcerto and other early works haven't been performed in "recent" times.
"Evocations" needs a modern recording. It is quite spectacular, full of mysterious sounds, big fanfares and angry marches.
As a conductor he leaves a very impressive legacy: he recorded for NAXOS and conducted many colleagues for RTB/BRT/VRT

pjme · September 29, 2020, 05:55:56 AM

Quote from: Scion7 on September 29, 2020, 05:29:32 AM
You lot keep bringing up people I've never heard of, and now I have yet another to explore....